Hi, i wonder if plastic surgery can change bone structure? Make someone's palm bigger, or nose longer, or jaw wider just by messing with bone structre?Are those corrections limited just on small areas, or someone could, let's say, get wider hips or longer legs after quot;plasticquot; surgery?
Yes, bone structure can be changed. To simplify as much as possible... If enlarging a segment of bone would alter the angles of involved joints, then you probably couldn't do it. If it would not alter the joint angles, then you probably could do it. For example, I don't think you could enlarge palms, make a jaw wider, or make hips wider. Legs can definitely be lengthened. The method is called distraction osteogenesis, invented by a Dr. Ilizarov in the old Soviet Union. In the US, this method is used to correct limb length disparities. I have never heard of it being done for cosmetic purposes here, but I know it is done in other countries. A nose, as the other answerer pointed out, could probably be augmented simply with something to fill space. Ideally, you would use cartilage from somewhere else. A wedge from the posterior aspect of the auricle (ear) is often used for corrective surgeries to the nose. I don't know if there are synthetic materials that can be used.
It can change bone structure on small scales, like someone who wants a higher cheekbone, or chiseled chin or something of that nature. They scrape away bone, or add faux-bone plastic. However, elongating an entire leg or widening hips by any amount significant enough for anyone to notice would, in my mind, cause so many other changes to muscles, tendons, circulatory system that it would be impossible or life-threatening at best. Even presumably needing to split your leg in two would be bad -- you need all of that bone marrow healthy and working to keep pumping out blood cells. I'd also point out that your brain developed from an early age to walk your body, and then as you grew, it continued to adapt to your changing body until you've arrived at where you are now, Presumably able to walk well in a straight line. Most people can think back to that awkward stage of puberty where not only did they have squeaky voices, or a budding chest, or acne, but even had difficulty walking straight and not being wobbly at the drinking fountain. This is because your body was undergoing a sudden shift, and your brain was doing its best to compensate for the changes -- and these took the course of what, a year? Year and a half? So now suddenly, BOOM you have a supermodel's 6-foot long legs. Unfortunately, neither your brain nor muscle memory now know how to allow your body to move without support. So how sexy would someone look pushing around a four-point walker? No, plastic surgery is for aesthetics only, and going on to fool with huge bones like that goes beyond aesthetics. But... I dunno, there may be a plastic surgeon out there to say different.
Yes, there is a wide variety of plastic surgery procedures that can make a person more aesthetically pleasing. But please remember, beauty is a subjective concept. Remember, the full name of the specialty is Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. These men and women operate on people who may have serious deformities as a result of birth defects, burns, disfiguring surgery for cancer, accidents, etc. It's not just about aesthetics.
